Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/637

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

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��CHAPTER LXIL

W R T H I N G T N T W N S H T P.

Organization — Streams, Springs and Timber — Abner Davis — Scenery along the Clear Fork— Fair View Rock — Chasm Rocks — Hemlock Falls — Slanting Rock — Eagle's Nest — Pioneer Threshing Floor — IsDiAN Hill — Prospect Hill — Fountain Cavern — Giant's Plowshark — Watt's Hill — Uriim-isg Rock — First Settlers — Thk Pigeon Roost — Adventure with a Bear — Mills — Churches — Newville — Winchester — Independence — Helltown — The Old Indian, Lyons.

tier of sections, entering the Clear Fork at New- ville. Andrew's Run enters the southwest cor-

��" Ye who love the haunts of Nature, Love the sunshine of the meadow, Love the shadow of the forest. Love the wind among the branches, And the rain-sliower and the snow-storm. And the rushing of great rivers Through their Palisades of pine-trees. And the thunder in the mountains. Whose innumerable echoes Flap like eagles in the eyries; Listen to these wild traditions."

--L'lngfdlow.

THE township was erected June 6, 1815, out of the east half of Greene, being then twelve miles long from north to south, and six miles wide. Thus it remained until February 11, 1817. when Monroe was created out of its north half leaving it in its present shape, six miles square. It is now in the southeast corner of the country. It was named after Gov. Worth- ington. of Ohio. Its surface is broken and hilly, especially along the Clear Fork, where the scenery is picturesque and beautiful. It is well watered by the Clear Fork and its tributaries ; this stream entering the township about the cen- ter of its Avestern side, its course being gener- ally northeast, leaving the township on its way to the Black Fork, about the center of Section 2. It is a clear, rapid stream, tumbling down among the hills, over a rocky and pebbl}' bot- tom. It must have been, long years ago, a very paradise of the red man. Slaters Run and its tributaries water the northern part. It passes from west to east across the northern

��ner of the township, and, passing north, empties into Clear Fork at Independence ; and Cold Run. coming from the southeast, joins the Clear Fork a short distance below Independence. In addition to these, numerous beautiful springs burst from the hillsides in ever}- direction.

Ever}- part of it was once densely wooded ; ever}^ species of hardwood gi'owing with great strength and beauty. Much of this timber has been cleared away, but even yet the hills along the Clear Fork, and patches of ground all over the township, are covered with timber of the best qualit}'.

The only railroad in the township is the Bal- timore & Ohio, which enters its western boundary- with the Clear Fork, running parallel with it to Independence, where it makes a curve. passing out on the same boundary' line about a mile from the southwest corner.

Among the most noted springs is one on the land now owned by the heirs of Al)ner Davis, two and a half miles southeast of Newville. This Mr. Davis was once robbed of $1,100 in gold, and recovered his monej' in a peculiar manner. Three men came to his house one bitter, cold night, before he had retired, and, presenting a pistol to his head, demanded his money. After getting the money, the robbers de- parted, and, becoming somewhat bewildered l)y the siiow-storin. wandered about until two of

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